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Original poster

Would you let a teacher smack your child?

96 replies

lyrasdaemon · 03/10/2008 11:54

According to a survey in today's Times Educational Supplement, 20 per cent of teachers favour a return to corporal punishment. The story can be found here.

Are there any circumstances in which you would let a teacher inflict corporal punishment on your child, or are you opposed to it full stop?

OP posts:
Dragonbutter · 03/10/2008 11:55

no i wouldn't.
i wouldn't let anyone smack my child.

MamaG · 03/10/2008 11:55

No. Its my job to discipline my children. Idon't smack them and would be furious if anybody else did.

Peachy · 03/10/2008 11:55

No. And I won't tain as a teacher either if expected to cane, no chance.

Megglevache · 03/10/2008 11:56

Nope. Not in a million years.

MamaG · 03/10/2008 11:56

When I say its my job to discipline my children - obviously I'm happy for teachers to use detention/storm cloud/whatever but not smacking under AN Y circumstances

McDreamy · 03/10/2008 11:57

Never!

frankbestfriend · 03/10/2008 11:57

Never, under no circumstances

Ohforfoxsake · 03/10/2008 11:57

No. And anyone who suggests that an adult inflicting pain and humiliation onto a child in the name of discipline (or for any other matter) is cruel and barking mad IMO.

madlentileater · 03/10/2008 11:58

I really can't believe this actually. No teachers I know would want this.
would be illegal anyway.

expatinscotland · 03/10/2008 11:58

No.

Jesus wept, the teacher where DD1 was supposed to go to school was a completely unprofessional cow.

She had it out for DD1 already, because DD1's dyspraxia.

I won't let her within 10 feet of my kid, much less punish her.

Tortington · 03/10/2008 11:59

PMSL at this thread on MN

are

you
shitting

moi?

this will be so funny - there will now ensure 700 posts on people not arguing but all saying how vile smacking is and giving examples of smacked childhood ruining the their lives.

bring back the birch

LouMacca · 03/10/2008 12:01

Absolutely no way.

80% of teachers oppose it then. Good. A return to corporal punishment will never happen.

Can't actually believe that 20% are for it

MollieO · 03/10/2008 12:21

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no - can you tell I'm against it!

crokky · 03/10/2008 12:25

Absolutely not. I wouldn't smack my children myself. However, if I did smack my children, I still wouldn't be happy for a teacher to do it.

When I was 9, someone at my school threw every single piece of toilet paper all over the 3 toilet cubicles by my classroom. It was a total mess. Anyway, somehow, the headmaster decided it was me (it wasn't - the first I knew of it was when I was being told I did it - I hadn't even seen it!!). He frightened the life out of me and I had absoutely nothing to do with it, still to this day I don't know who did it or why. I would hate to have been SMACKED as well as frightened half to death for something I knew nothing about!! I still remember him being really nasty to me. (I was not a troublesome child at school btw).

AtheneNoctua · 03/10/2008 12:53

No. But then I also wouldn't allow my kid to go to school where this might be considered an appropriate last resort. It's very difficult for me to compare my posh suburban/West London primary school to one in Croyden or East London where they have crimes being committed be 12 year olds.

I heard a teacher on the radio this morning saying no one wants to cane but some have real discipline problems and see it as the only last resort to control the classrooms.

belgo · 03/10/2008 12:56

No. I was smacked by two teachers as a child, and it was never appropiate - in each case I hadn't even been naughty - it was simply that the teachers did not know how to handle the situation, which looking back is worrying as I was naturally a very well behaved child.

fondant4000 · 03/10/2008 13:22

No. Can't believe teachers really want corporal punishment back.

Can I smack a teacher?

Litchick · 03/10/2008 13:23

No. When I was at school the same kids got smacked time and time again. They were always the ones who struggled with their work and I'm sure school must have been nothing but a misery for them.

nailpolish · 03/10/2008 13:30

would i fuck

i hadt he belt LOADS at school - from primary one - belted on the bare arse for laughing out loud then shut in the toilets sat on a bucket (age 5)

to drinking water in science (age 12)

horrible memories

southeastastra · 03/10/2008 13:32

no but maybe they could use a cattle prod

cupsoftea · 03/10/2008 13:34

IF the teacher hit someone in the street it's a criminal offence - if a teacher hit my child at school I would report it to the police.

bramblebooks · 03/10/2008 13:41

Absolutely not. All staff at the school where I work are absolutely horrified at this. I doubt it's a fair representation of teachers' views either, as many of those on the TES site can have extreme views from what I've seen posted there.

CherryChapstick · 03/10/2008 13:42

Only if I could kick their asses when I find out about it!

Upwind · 03/10/2008 13:44

echoes Custardo

TheFallenMadonna · 03/10/2008 13:46

I'd be interested to see how they sampled this.

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